FAQ

Damage Restoration Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ

Our office is located at 9621 10th Ave N Plymouth, MN 55441. We serve and work in the surrounding cities within a 30-mile radius.

First and foremost, I cannot emphasize enough that you must do your research and choose an experienced, reputable, and capable full-service restoration company. Insurance restoration is NOT like remodeling, where getting multiple bids is an effective best practice. With insurance restoration, efficient restoration occurs when a property owner selects ONE full-service restoration company to manage the entire project and negotiate estimate approval with the insurance company.

When you make an insurance claim, it is your responsibility to pay the deductible. It is standard procedure for restoration companies to collect 100% of the deductible upfront when the mitigation or repair work begins.

This is an important personal decision. Our project manager will discuss the details of the work before we begin. If there will be significant disturbance/inconvenience, it may be best to seek a temporary living solution. If you require a temporary living space, your insurance company will typically cover these expenses for a set amount of time. We can manage the request for temporary living and set the time and duration with the insurance company.

After an agreed-upon scope has been approved by your adjustor and payment has been issued, a project manager will be assigned to your specific job. The production department will help you through the next steps including selections (paint, flooring, etc).

Every loss is different so an exact timeline is hard to predict. The process can take a couple of months to several months or more in severe situations.

Water Damage

Water damaged contents will be inventoried and damage type/extent will be recorded. This information will be immediately sent off to the insurance so they may give approval on restoration or replacement. If the contents are considered restorable and there is space onsite to perform the necessary restoration, that work will begin onsite immediately. If ample space onsite does not exist, affected items will be inventoried and packed out to our secure warehouse in Plymouth where we will begin restoration work immediately. We provide an electronic, photographic inventory on a specialized software called Assured Complete. Once the materials have entered the warehouse we will provide you with a copy of this inventory for your records.

The total cost of electrical usage for our equipment is much less than folks think. Also, this extra cost is customarily picked up by the insurance company. A three-day dry-out with a standard amount of equipment runs about $25 in electricity. A five-day dry-out with a standard amount of equipment runs about $75 in electricity.

Regardless of equipment type, all of our equipment is rated to run for days without being turned off. Please, unless there is an emergency or we advise you otherwise, it is best to leave it on and running at all times until the job is completed.
Our technicians will check and adjust the equipment daily as they track job progress. If you hear or smell something abnormal from our equipment please unplug the equipment and call us immediately at 763-544-8761.

We utilize cutting-edge digital moisture meters specifically designed for restoration. These devices check for proper moisture content in various types of building materials. Certain materials will take on more water than others, and sometimes can be more challenging to dry. Please feel free to ask our technicians about the process. We are happy to teach our customers about the process to alleviate anxiety.

Under normal conditions, a residential water loss will take approximately three to five days to dry. Depending on the materials present and their total exposure to moisture the total time frame can expand. It is extremely important to begin the drying process within 72 hours of an event to reduce the possibility of microbial growth.

damage restoration frequently asked questions

Water damages are like snowflakes, no two are ever the same. While we cannot quote the specific cost, we can ballpark the total cost based on the information we receive. The more detailed information about the damage and conditions, the more accurate this ballpark will be.

Your insurance company is the ONLY party that can definitively answer this question. We can offer our experience but we suggest you contact your agent for guidance on whether or not to file a claim. The three most important words in damage restoration are Sudden, Accidental, and Maintenance. Traditionally, for damage to be covered, it must have happened suddenly and been an accident. When coverage is denied, it is typically because the cause is a maintenance issue and/or a long-term problem.

Please remember that accidents and carelessness are almost always covered! Examples of sudden and accidental water losses: broken pipes, overflowing from a bathtub, overflowing sink, appliance leaks, washing machine leaks, broken fire sprinkler lines, hot water heating system failure, frozen pipes, and more. What isn’t typically covered is rot or groundwater damage, unless a property owner has a specific flood insurance policy.

Fire Damage

Every loss is different so an exact timeline is hard to predict. The process can take a couple of months to several months or more in severe situations.

Damaged contents will be inventoried and damage type/extent will be recorded. This information will be immediately sent off to the insurance so they may give approval on restoration or replacement. If the contents are considered restorable and there is space onsite to perform the necessary restoration, that work will begin onsite immediately. If ample space onsite does not exist, affected items will be inventoried and packed out to our secure warehouse in Plymouth where we will begin restoration work immediately. We provide an electronic, photographic inventory on a specialized software called Assured Complete. Once the materials have entered the warehouse we will provide you with a copy of this inventory for your records.

No. It is best to dispose of these things as even food sealed in jars or cans can be spoiled from the elevated temperatures. Things like smoke, toxic fumes, chemicals from fire extinguishers, and even the water/chemicals used to fight the fire can contaminate medications, food (including pet food), and more. These items can be inventoried and tossed.

Your insurance company will be able to assist with living arrangements. Make sure to keep all of your receipts for your stay and food during this time. Depending on the depth of repairs and length of time, your insurance may have you stay at an extended stay hotel, an apartment, or a house.

Your insurance company is the ONLY party that can definitively answer this question. We can offer our experience but we suggest you contact your agent for guidance on whether or not to file a claim.
Keep all of your receipts from this point forward.

Short answer, yes. Provided that proper repairs and restoration have been done, the home value can be maintained or even increased. The goal is to restore the home to pre-loss condition. This means replacing many parts of the home including framing, drywall, carpeting, etc. After this is done, the home can be considered remodeled.

Yes! We will go through your entire home from the contents all the way down to the framing, and we will evaluate what can be cleaned or what needs to be replaced. We offer a “No Smoke Smell” guarantee.